POWER TO DECIDE STATEMENT ON THE SENATE CONFIRMATION TO THE SUPREME COURT
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, in a 52 to 48 vote, the Senate confirmed Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In response, Gillian Sealy, Interim CEO for Power to Decide, issued the following statement:
“We are extremely concerned with the recent confirmation to the Supreme Court. The health care of millions is at stake, as well as access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care. The Court has and will continue to play a pivotal role in determining whether reproductive health care, including birth control and abortion services remain legally available and accessible without barriers to all.
“On November 10, 2020, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hold oral arguments in California v. Texas, a case that could determine whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—and all its protections—remains the law of the land. Should the Court strike down the ACA, 21 million people could lose affordable health insurance coverage, including 12 million people on Medicaid. More than 61 million women would also lose no co-pay coverage of preventive services including birth control and annual well-woman visits.
“Contraception is basic health care and abortion care is part of the full spectrum of reproductive health care services to which all women need access. This access is already limited for too many women. Today, more than 19 million U.S. women struggling to make ends meet live in contraceptive deserts, counties where they lack reasonable access to a clinic offering the full range of contraceptive methods. A reversal of the ACA would only add additional barriers by forcing more women to struggle to afford basic care like contraception.
“We urge Congress to act swiftly and use its legislative authority to safeguard the health and reproductive well-being of millions of people by protecting the ACA.
“It is not enough to make our voice heard. We must make sure our elected officials protect all people’s opportunity to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child.”
Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.